I've been testing the units for the past couple of days, and it has performed very well. I've run them anywhere from 10 Watts all the way up to 50 Watts, and they have performed admirably. One thing I must note, is that despite the HB-50 being spec'ed to be able to fire as low as 0.2 Ω atomizers, I have been unsuccessful in doing so. In all of the units I tested, attempting to fire that low resulted in a "Low Res" warning, and the device would not fire. The other atomizers I tried were as low as 0.3 Ω as high as 1.8 Ω, and all ran flawlessly and consistently.

Another note, is that the Yihi SX300 chip cannot buck the power down. While it can boost power up to 8.5 V (with a freshly charged battery - maximum 6.7 V if your atomizer is 1.5 Ω or lower), it cannot buck the voltage down. The minimum output, would be whatever the battery's status is. For example, if you throw a 0.3 Ω coil on to the device, and try to fire it at 7 Watts, it won't be able to go that low. With a freshly charged battery, and factoring in voltage drop, the device would be firing a 0.3 Ω coil at its limit of 50 Watts. Similarly, a 0.8 Ω coil with a freshly charged battery and factoring in voltage drop would result in a minimum output of 19 Watts. Despite what the display states, the minimum voltage output is always whatever the battery's status is. The display only shows what the calculated voltage output *should* be, but there is actually no buck circuit to pull the voltage down.

Using the menu and adjusting the power through a single button isn't as difficult as it may sound. To boot up the system, press the fire button 5 times, which will then display the HCigar logo on the screen for a couple of seconds, followed by "SX300" for another couple of seconds. It will then enter the main screen. From the main screen:

- Pressing the fire button 3 times will lock the device. Pressing the fire button 3 times again will unlock it.

- Pressing the fire button 2 more times (total 5 times from the main screen or from locked status) will enter the wattage adjustment mode. Tilting the device to the left will adjust the wattage down. Tilting the device to the right will adjust the wattage up.

- Pressing the fire button 1 more time (total of 6 times from the main screen) will allow the user to exit the menu. A tilt to the left or right will enter the selection and bring the user back to the main screen.

- Or if the fire button is pressed a 7th time, the menu will enter into the system shutdown query. Again, a tilt to the left or right will enter the selection to shut down the system, and a whimsical "Byebye" message appears on the screen.

It may seem a bit confusing at first, but after a bit of use, it ends up making total sense and quite easy to use.

The fact that this device does not have any other buttons besides the firing switch seems to be polarizing. Many users seem to like the idea. I like it, because it's less parts to break, and it allows for more room in the device, since it doesn't have to be cluttered up with additional componentry and wiring. Other users hate it, since it does require five button presses just to be able to change the power, and then a sixth button press to exit the wattage adjustment screen.

CONCLUSION

The HCigar HB Series is a solidly built device, using quality materials and precise machining. While it is not the smallest device out there, it is certainly well built, and its biggest selling point is the price point that it's trying to hit in at. Priced comparably to the iPV2, the HCigar HB-50 also shares very similar specifications of a 50W maximum, whilst also providing a much better 510 connection, a better button feel, better USB port location, and better fitment of parts. Considering the almost identical price points between the HCigar HB and the iPV2, it's really tough to recommend the iPV2 when the build quality and features of the HCigar HB just seem to trump it.

The biggest polarizing feature, seems to be the lack of any power adjustment buttons which relies on a tilt/gravity/g-sensor (it goes by several names), and the user tilting the device side to side to make adjustments. Whether this is for you, is purely personal preference. Some hate it. Some love it. I fall into the latter camp, as it allows for a less complex and more robust design. Perhaps there are some out there who really don't mind it at all. I hope a larger majority of users out there fall in this category.